Sunday, November 13, 2016

Leon Russell Passes Away at 74

I am devastated by the news that
Leon Russell has died. I have been a fan of his for many years and was
fortunate enough to see him on several tours – sometimes in large Coliseum venues
but more often in smaller intimate places with a couple of hundred like-minded
fans.

He never failed to deliver a
fantastic show. His piano playing combined elements of country, gospel, jazz,
blues, and rock and his gravelly voice was perfectly suited for hard rocking,
enthusiastic shouting – but it was also wonderfully seductive.

After being a background player
for years, he burst onto the performing scene on his own. He appeared on the
Madison Square Garden stage for George Harrison’s A Concert For Bangladesh and pretty much stole the show. With his
trademark Top Hat (later changed to a white cowboy hat to be true to his
Oklahoma roots) and his barrelhouse piano – Russell rocked hard.

He also put together the band for
Joe Cocker’s Mad Dogs And Englishmen
tour in a mere 10 days, with himself as the anchor. Russell became a co-star as
he provided vocals for several of the songs and he kept the hard partying group
on point. Just recently Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeshi put together a tribute
to this great show and included as many of the original members of the band as
possible. Once again, Russell served as the anchor. During his more recent
concerts he told a few stories and performed the closing number from the show.
It was the kind of moment where you felt like crying and giving a standing
ovation at the same time.

It was on that last tour that my
wife and I saw him at The Tin Pan in Richmond, VA. An intimate venue that seats
about 200 people, it was the perfect place to see the man whose music I had
long admired. We were within 15 feet of him and had a great view of his back
and side. For two hours he took us on the magical journey of his career, offering
bits and pieces from his major works, and some of the best selections that
might not have been hits but were still amazing undiscovered gems.

Unfortunately, Russell’s health
has been precarious over the last several years. He underwent a five-and-a-half-hour
operation to repair a brain leakage and he had a heart attack this past July.
On that last tour, he used his cane and still needed assistance from one of his
players to walk to the stage.

But seated behind his piano, he
was in total command. His shoulder length silver white hair and beard
accentuated his weathered face, and the music that he was able to summon
transported his die-hard fans to a different place and time.

For those of you who were lucky
enough to see Leon Russell live, you already know what I’m talking about. For
those of you who missed that opportunity, no words will never be enough to give
you that experience.

Thank you, Leon, for the music,
the memories, and the love you shared with us all. You will live on in our
hearts.